If Ollie signs just one of the elite players we're in the mix for, to go with Purvis and Hamilton, we're in business. We'd just need role players to fill out the class. I've always been of the opinion its best to have only two or three star-level guys and a crew of support level/glue guys/role players.
I figured here is a good time to chime in on this thread. Some fun recruiting discussion going on here.
I've not been posting much lately. It's been a busy summer and I don't follow recruiting like I used to. I've been reading many of the threads to keep abreast of what's going on. It's good to seeing Ollie on so many top recruits, though it's one thing to make a player's top 5 (or whatever) list, but it's landing them that counts. As many pointed out JC would swing and miss at many of his initial priority recruits, but always seemed to land one or two along with some diamonds-in-the-rough that turned out to be outstanding players (Emeka, Ben, Boone, Lamb and the list goes on). Like JC, I think Ollie will have a similar eye for spotting untapped talent and developing them into very good to great players.
I've learned not to get too attached to spring and early summer recruits because the class usually turns out to be made up primarily with names that we either never heard of early on or somewhat off the radar. Getting Hamilton and the transfer Purvis was a surprising and exciting start. And as some have pointed out already, if KO adds some solid role players to that group it's still a good class, but I hope he adds one or two top recruits to make it a top 2014 class. UConn really needs to keep this going and finish atop the AAC. Some programs that aren't in one of the high-major conferences, such as Memphis over the past few years, have been able to attract top recruits by finishing at the top of their conference. KO should be able to do the same if UConn continues to be a major player come tournament time. I hope continued success with the Men's hoops program as well as other sports can eventually get UConn a high-major conference invitiation.
From what little I've read, I haven't seen any strong quotes for our recruits that makes me feel like any of them are a slam dunk or a heavy UConn lean. I just hope that our not being in a major conference turns out to be the thing that flips most or all these top recruits to one of their other choices that happens to be in one of the big boys. That didn't seem to matter with Hamilton and Purvis, so there's no reason to believe that it won't be a factor for one or more of the top recruits that still have UConn in their top 4, 5 or whatever. Bottom line, it's nice to make that final cut, but it means very little if we don't land one or two of them. All programs swing and miss, even happens to the Squid at UK, but to cut down the nets you usually need to swing and connect on a few that span a few classes. I think all our NC teams had at least two elite recruits. #1 - Rip & Khalid. #2 - Emeka, Ben, Taleik, Charlie, though granted Emeka was a late bloomer and get, and CV was a role player that NC year. Lastly #3 - Kemba, Alex, Bazz (would have been a top PG if he had stayed in his original class), Lamb (under-ranked, there were some who saw him play and thought he'd be very good to great). It's interesting that it's not always the highest rated recruits that turn out to be the most important contributors, but you usually have at least one that does. Our NCs have been built on the backs of the under-rated, under-ranked, late-bloomers, lunch-pail contributors and winning time players. I wouldn't want it any other way.
Like all of you, I like winning. But I do not want our program to be like UK's One-and-Done U, where before we get to know our players they already have one foot out the door and gone before you know it. With that said, I'd like KO to get his fair share of three-and-done and some two-and-done type talent on a regular basis along with the high work ethic and hard working 4 year ones.
I love how and where KO is leading and building this program. Getting high character and talented kids led by a high character and talented coach makes me proud to be a Husky fan.
